Comments on: Do Overs

By: seanchaí

seanchaí — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:01:54 +0000

I didn’t take a lot of time off from mine. I finished HOC (which will get rewritten after the first of the year) and within two weeks dove into a new project. I actually had grand intentions of allowing myself to read and catch up on movies and recharge, but when it came down to it I wasn’t happy not writing SOMETHING. Then I wound up putting Flash Point on the backburner when Til Death popped into my head and I worked feverishly to get that going for Sven. And now I’m contemplating a spin off novella in the same Mississippi town as Til Death until that one’s plot straightens out in my head. I took what was tantamount to three years off for grad school and it was like having to learn how to write all over again. I will never take that kind of time off EVER again for anything…

By: joelysueburkhart

joelysueburkhart — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:55:39 +0000

Susan, it’s interesting that you say that, about the break in between Sven I and II. That’s why a friend and I started a little “1K a Day” club, because we wanted MORE than Sven. We wanted to write every day, whether Sven was dripping sweat on us or not. We participate in Sven when the phase is going, but we don’t stop in between sessions either. That’s helped me write over 100K since 9/1. I do plan to take some breaks and recharge around the holidays after I finish NSR (it’ll take more than Nov to finish the first draft), but I really can’t imagine going days or weeks without writing a thing.

By: Susan B.

Susan B. — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:43:34 +0000

Well, I guess it’s not really the same subject. Just what the quote made me think of. I have to agree with you about not taking so much time off. It’s hard to say if it was just because I was into the story or because I was in the habit of writing ever day that things were really moving along in Sweat 1 and Sweat 2, after a long break, has just kicked my butt. I guess it’s obvious that it’s a combination of both.

By: Art: Now with 50% less perspiration « Hunting High and Low

Art: Now with 50% less perspiration « Hunting High and Low — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:21:33 +0000

[...] 19, 2007 by Susan B. Kettle’s recent post, Do Overs, made me think of something I’ve been musing about for some time. She started the post [...]

By: seanchaí

seanchaí — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:42:34 +0000

Ironic that you mention that Joely (I did sign up for Nano, but haven’t much kept up with the emails, btw) because my note from the Universe was as follows today:

“When you tough it out, hold the line, and stay the course, Kathleen, I promise you, there will soon come a day when you look back over your shoulder, shake your head in dismay, and seriously wonder what all the fuss was about.

Just like all the other times,
The Universe”

By: joelysueburkhart

joelysueburkhart — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:31:10 +0000

Did you sign up for NaNo this time? Neil Gaiman was the “speaker” this weekend, and since you didn’t mention it (and it’s highly appropriate) I’m assuming you didn’t see it. Anyway, he said when writing his last novel, he actually called his agent and said he couldn’t do it. The book sucked. Everything sucked. And she said, “Oh, you’re at that spot again.” He’d forgotten he’d done the same thing before. And so do many other authors. Sometimes you have to push through because the doubt is yours, not a problem with the story. Sometimes a shitty first draft is required, even when you know it’s flawed. But sometimes you have to start over, too, and that’s perfectly okay. You are NOT alone–we all fight these battles. Writing is the Hero’s Journey. This story has you in the Valley, or the Ordeal, and it might take you there again (and again). Keep writing, though, and you WILL find your way through!!